Sectionalized metal structure



March 29, T. L, BONKOWSKI AL SECTIONALIZED METAL STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 16, 1946 I JPWWW Patented Mar. 29, 1949 l' l ED 'srA s-s eATsNr orrlcs Teofil L. Bonkowski and Harry 'soll oway, Los Angeles, Calif;

Application September 1s, 1946, Serial No. 697,246 Y The present invention relates to a sectionalized metal structure.

'There are many uses fora flexible metal wall structure such as, forexample, roll top closure members where articulated motion of sections of a composite wall structure is desired. In such instances the metal structure is sectionalized in such a manner that a composite flexible Wall results. It is desirable that the number of kinds of different parts making up the wall structure be no greater than one in number and that such parts cooperate positively thereby to produce an interlocked structure wherein there is only one degree of freedom of one part with respect to another but wherein the parts may be releasably attached and detached from one another to facilitate assembling, cleaning, painting, etc., operations.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved flexible metal structure achieving the mentioned desideratum.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved flexible metal structure of parts which cooperate to assure but one degree of freedom of movement of one of the parts with respect to another in normal use of the structure.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved flexible se-ctionalized metal structure wherein the sectionalized parts are maintained interlocked positively but are yet separable to allow releasable attachment and detachment of individual sectionalized parts.

Yet another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved flexible sectionalized metal structure having identical sections which are formed inexpensively from a single sheet of metal.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved flexible sectionalized metal structure having identical sections which are interlocked in a new and improved manner, the interlocked structure providing enhanced flexibility in the desired one degree of movement.

The features of the present invention which ar believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figur 1 is a sect onal view taken substantially on line l-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a view in plan elevation of five iden- I tical parts interlocked to form a sectionalized flexible metal wall structure in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of one of the parts taken in the direction 3-3 in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on line i4 of Figure 2.

The flexible sectionalized wall structure 10, a portion of which is shown in Figure 2, is made up of a plurality of identical interchangeable parts H.

Each part ii is formed from a split flattened tubular member to provide a pair of resilient fingers l2, IS on one side thereof and on the other side thereof a bulbous swivel member I4, the fingers l2, l3 being spaced from the swivel member I l by a reentrant portion 1'5 within which the fingers 12,13 of the adjacent part II extend to thereby resiliently clamp one part II to the adjacent part I I.

An important feature of the present invention is the manner in which adjacent parts are interlocked. The nature of the interlocking connection is such that in normal operation but one degree of freedom is permitted and enhanced flexibility in the composite wall structure results.

To achieve these desirable features, in accordance with the present invention, the resilient finger l2 has serrations or bifurcations l6 on its edge I? spaced to enter into and cooperate with equally spaced indentations l8 at the reentrant portion It: in the adjacent part I5 to thereby correctly space and resiliently lock adjacent parts against relative movement in their longitudinal directions.

Inasmuch as the bifurcations f6 contact the indentations I8 on an area less than is otherwise the case when the bifurcations l6 and indentations 1'8 are not present, there is less frictional resistance to movement of adjacent parts in the desired direction of articulated motion. Thus, by providing the cooperating serrations or bifurcations IB and indentations l8 better articulated motion between adjacent parts I! result and more important the adjacent parts are prevented positively from moving relative to one another in their longitudinal directions in normal use.

However, the fingers l2, 83 are sufficiently resilient to allow withdrawal or insertion of the bifurcations, I6 from and into the indentations I 8 upon the exertion of relatively large forces between adjacent parts i l thereby to allow adjacent parts to be interlocked in a releasably attachable and detachable manner.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the vallmended claims is to cover al su h ge and m d fi ations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A flexible metal wall structure comprising a pair of identical parts, each part having a pair of resilient flanges at one side thereof and a, bead member at the other side, th resilient flanges and the bead member being separated by a depressed portion, one of said flanges having serrations on the free edge thereof, and said dep esse o i n having ind ntations t e eceiving said serrations.

2- A fl x e me al wall stru ture comp sin a pair of identical parts, each part having a pair of resilient flanges and a bead member, the resilient flanges and the bead member being separated by a depressed portion, and cooperating locking means between the flanges of one part and the depressed portion of the other part.

3. As an article of manufacture, a wall member having a pair of opposing resilient flanges, one of said flanges having serrations on the edge hereof. a bead member, a dep ssed p i n j ing said flanges and said bead, and said depressed portion having indentations therein.

TEOFIL L. BONKOWSKI. HARRY SOLLOWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 677,123 Ebner June 25, 1901 769,423 Wilson Sept. 6, 1904 830 456 Sehultes gym--0- Sept. 4. 1906 

